7 Top Health Benefits of Wheatgrass With Side Effects

If you have ever gone to a health food store or a juice bar, you must have come across a patch of fresh green grass growing in a pot. This is wheatgrass, the young grass of the wheat plant, which is usually juiced and taken as a supplement in the form of powder or tablets.

Some of its proponents also claim that you can use it as a treatment for cancer, diabetes, anemia, and joint pain.

Let us learn in detail on how wheatgrass benefits our health with potential side effects.

What is wheatgrass?

Wheatgrass is the freshly sprouted grass of the common wheat plant Triticum eastivum. You can harvest wheatgrass around 7 to 10 days after sprouting.

It usually takes two weeks from planting to harvesting. People blend the wheatgrass into juice or add it to smoothies. Dried wheatgrass tablets and powder are also available at health stores.

History of wheatgrass

The history of wheatgrass can be traced back to over 5000 years, to ancient Egypt and Mesopotamian civilizations. The ancient Egyptians believed that young blades of wheatgrass improved health and vitality.

In the more recent past, wheatgrass gained popularity in 1930s thanks to the Charles F. Schnabel’s experiments.

In the 1940s Ann Wigmore was able to heal herself of cancer with weeds from vacant plots. Later, she discovered that wheatgrass has medicinal value.

Nutritional profile of wheatgrass

Wheatgrass is a rich source of amino acids, vitamins, minerals, and enzymes. One of the most critical nutrients in wheatgrass is chlorophyll, which acts as an antioxidant in the body (1).

It contains 17 amino acids, of which eight are essential amino acids, which means that they are not produced in the body, and you have to obtain them from food sources (2).

Wheatgrass also contains antioxidants like flavonoids and phenolic acid. It is a rich source of iron. It also includes several vitamins and minerals like magnesium, calcium, selenium, vitamin A, vitamin C and vitamin E.

Health benefits of wheatgrass

Though the proponents of wheatgrass claim it has several health benefits, most of them are not science-backed. Here are some of the evidence-based benefits of wheatgrass.

1. Helps alkalize the body

The high chlorophyll content in wheatgrass provides alkalizing benefits to the body. It naturally balances the pH levels in the body, which protects cells and prevents acidosis.

Acidosis occurs when we follow an unhealthy lifestyle and eat processed food. Chronic acidosis can lead to various diseases including cancer.

This is the reason why chlorophyll is linked to young and healthier looking skin.

Along with providing alkalizing benefits to the body, wheatgrass also helps in the absorption of nutrients like electrolytes, vitamin C, and vitamin E.

2. Rich in antioxidants

Numerous studies have found that consuming wheatgrass can inhibit lipid peroxidation in the liver and help protect mitochondria in cells. This reduces inflammation levels, thus lowering the risk for liver disease, cancer, and heart ailments.

During one study, when wheatgrass was given to rabbits, it decreased their total cholesterol and increased HDL-C. It also leads to an increase in glutathione and vitamin C levels in their bodies (4).

Another study found that the oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC) of wheatgrass were much higher than that of many other extracts and vegetables (5).

3. Helps reduce cholesterol

Several studies have found that wheatgrass can lower the levels of cholesterol in the body.

During one study, rats with experimentally-induced high cholesterol were given fresh wheatgrass juice for 14 days. The results revealed that the rats experienced reduced levels of total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, and triglycerides (7).

Another study examined the effects of wheatgrass in rabbits that had been fed a high-fat diet to induce hyperlipidemia. These rabbits were given wheatgrass along with a high-fat diet for ten weeks.

The results showed that wheatgrass supplementation resulted in decreased total cholesterol and increased HDL. It also significantly reduced malondialdehyde levels and increased glutathione and vitamin C levels (4).

Though the results of these animal studies are very encouraging, we need more human studies on the subject.

4. Cancer protection

Wheatgrass can protect from cancer by inducing apoptosis (self-destruction of cancer cells) according to studies. According to a 2017 study, wheatgrass can reduce the spread of oral cancer cells by 41 percent (8).

During another study that checked the effects of commercial wheatgrass on leukemia cells, the researchers found that wheatgrass reduced the number of viable cells by 65 percent after 72 hours of treatment (9).

Wheatgrass can also reduce the adverse effects of traditional treatment for cancer like chemotherapy. During one study, 60 patients with breast cancer were given wheatgrass juice along with chemotherapy treatment.

5. Helps lower blood sugar levels

Wheatgrass juice is considered to be beneficial for lowering blood sugar levels. During one study, when researchers gave wheatgrass to rats, it helped modify the levels of specific enzymes and reduced blood sugar levels (12).

In a 2013 study diabetic rats were treated with wheatgrass for 30 days. The researchers found that treatment with wheatgrass improved their blood sugar levels significantly (13).

6. Alleviates inflammation

Chronic inflammation can lead to autoimmune disorders, cancer, and heart disease. According to some studies, wheatgrass contains compounds that can reduce and control inflammation.

During one study, when 21 patients with ulcerative colitis took 100 ccs of wheatgrass every day for one month, it improved their condition and also reduced rectal bleeding (14).

Wheatgrass is also an excellent source of chlorophyll which is known to have potent anti-inflammatory properties. According to a 2012 study, chlorophyll is a valuable anti-inflammatory agent (15).

Another study found that chlorophyll also helps reduce the inflammation in human aortic endothelial cells (16).